Turkish police fire tear gas at protesters in Istanbul

Turkish police have fired tear gas and used water cannons in Istanbul to disperse thousands of anti-government protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Police on Saturday fired volleys of tear gas at protesters gathered at the city’s landmark Taksim Square who were trying to enter the nearby Gezi Park, which has been cordoned off. Sporadic clashes between riot police and protesters stretched into the night.

Earlier, Istanbul’s Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu, warned that the demonstration was illegal and participants would be dispersed.

Organizers of the Saturday protest had planned to serve notice to authorities of a court decision that has annulled redevelopment plans for Taksim and to break through police cordons.

An Istanbul court in June ruled against the redevelopment plans. The court’s decision however, is not final and is expected to be appealed at a higher administrative court…